Suryakumar Yadav has been removed as captain and also dropped from the squad as a player after a difficult IPL 2026 campaign.

The Mumbai Indians batter managed only 270 runs in 13 matches and struggled to reproduce the form that had previously made him one of India’s leading T20 performers.

Iyer, meanwhile, strengthened his position through strong performances both as a batter and a leader in the IPL.

India’s T20 side now begins preparations for its upcoming assignments against England and Ireland.

The selection committee also announced the Indian squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with Iyer taking the captaincy role there as well.

Young stars get opportunities

The T20I squad includes some exciting new faces.

Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned a maiden call-up after a sensational IPL season, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.30.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Prince Yadav also made the squad after a strong performance, taking 16 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.82.

Bumrah rested

India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the T20I series against England and Ireland, following a heavy workload that included the T20 World Cup 2026 and a gruelling IPL season.

Ishan Kishan out

Ishan Kishan has been omitted from the T20I squad for the England and Ireland series but has been included in the Asian Games team.

The selections reflect a mix of experience and youth, with a clear focus on grooming new talent while managing workloads ahead of a busy international calendar.